R.550 Magic

R.550 Magic / R.550 Magic II
General Information
Type	Air-to-air missile
Manufacturer	MBDA
development	Matra
Commissioning	1972
Technical specifications
length	2720 mm
diameter	157 mm
Combat weight	89 kg
drive	Solid rocket motor
speed	Do 3
Range	0.3-15 km
Furnishing
Target location	Infrared
Warhead	13 kg fragmentation warhead
Weapon platforms	Dassault Mirage , Dassault Rafale , Dassault Super Étendard
Lists on the subject

The R.550 Magic is a short-range air-to-air missile developed by Matra in 1968 on behalf of the French Air Force . The missile is the French competitor to the US AIM-9 Sidewinder .

The first tests took place on 11 January 1972 a Gloster Meteor fired it successfully on a North CT20 - target drone . Series production began in 1976. The rocket is equipped with a solid rocket engine and an infrared target search system. The disadvantage of the Magic I's aiming system is that enemy aircraft can only be detected from behind. With the Magic II, an improved version was put into service in 1986. In the Magic II, the IR seeker head was replaced by an improved version, and enemy targets could now also be attacked head-on. Both missiles have eight fixed and four movable wings. The two versions can only be distinguished at the seeker head; with the Magic I it is transparent, with the Magic II it is opaque.

A total of around 11,300 rockets (approx. 7000 Magic I and approx. 4000 Magic II) were produced and exported. The Argentine Navy has been using them since 1982 (after the end of the Falklands War ). The Iraq is also a well-known buyer.

The Magic II is gradually being replaced in the French armed forces by the MICA developed by MBDA .